A Guide to Earthquake Lesson Plans

Maggy Benson manages both distance learning and community partnerships in the Office of Education and Outreach at the National Museum of Natural History. She manages the...

Aug 25, 2011

It isn’t everyday that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes the East Coast of the United States. But on August 23, 2011, people from Georgia to New England felt the rumble and shaking of an earthquake whose epicenter was in Mineral, Va. The East Coast is historically a low risk zone. What exactly happened and how might educators use this event in the classroom?

First, take a look at an interview in Smithsonian Magazine with Dr. Elizabeth Cottrell, a geologist with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History who puts the Virginia earthquake into context, explaining why it was felt over such a large area, the geology behind this earthquake, and what is generally known about faults in Virginia.

Earth’s Composition: The Earth is divided into layers by its physical and chemical properties: the crust, upper mantle, mantle, outer core, and inner core as shown in this United States Geological Survey (USGS) illustration. The crust and the upper mantle are collectively known as the lithosphere, which is comprised of tectonic plates. You can teach elementary students about Earth’s layers with this fun and edible "Pit of the Earth" activity.

Measuring Earthquakes: Seismographs are the devices used to detect and record the vibration of earthquakes. Show your students how to develop their own seismograph with the "Shake It Up With Seismographs" lesson and activity plan.

Calculating Magnitude: Seismologists measure the amount of energy released by an earthquake by calculating its magnitude. The scale commonly used today is a logarithmic scale that uses several factors to calculate the magnitude. Use this USGS magnitude calculator to help students understand how much more powerful the magnitude 9.0 Japanese earthquake was compared to the East Coast 5.8 earthquake.

Earthquakes and Tsunamis: Using maps and graphics, Smithsonian geologist Dr. Liz Cottrell provides an overview of the major earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011 in this video "Understanding the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami." You can also access "This Dynamic Planet," a Smithsonian/USGS interactive world map of volcanoes, earthquakes, impact craters, and plate tectonics.